Ship protector



July 5, 1949. F. A. HAMBRICK SHIP PROTECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 27, 1945 F. A. HAMBRICK SHIP PROTECTOR July 5, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27, 1945 Patented July 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to ship protectors, and more particularly to protective devices for warships or other vessels adapted to ward off or deflect torpedoes or other projectiles.

A main object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary armorplate structure for ships having new and improved features.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved protective structure for ships wherein a plurality of cushioned armorplates are arranged to encircle the ship below the water line to cushion the impact of a projectile and to prevent said projectile from doing serious damage to the ship.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and claim, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an improved protective structure for a ship in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the structure of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken transversely of the structure of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view in front elevation of an armor plate element employed in the structure of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail view of an indicator device, one of which is operatively connected to each armor plate element employed in the structure of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the auxiliary armor structure comprises a supporting bar I which completely encircles the hull of a ship, such as shown in dotted view in Figure 1, and which is held in spaced relation to the hull by a plurality of upwardly and outwardly extending bracket members 2 and outwardly extending bars 2' rigidly secured between the hull and supporting bar I. Pivotally mounted on supporting bar I and forming a protective skirt encircling the ship are a plurality of armorplate elements 3. Supporting bar I is positioned a short distance above the water surface and armorplate elements 3 extend from bar I downwardly to substantially the level of the bottom of the ships hull, as shown in Figure 1.

The armorplate elements 3 are cushioned against inward movement with respect to the ships hull by a plurality of strong compression springs 4, a pair of such springs being secured between the lower portion of each armorplate element 3 and the adjacent hull surface. Springs i normally maintain armorplate elements 3 in a substantially vertical position in the water.

Each armorplate element 3 is formed with a plurality of horizontally spaced inwardly directed vertical ribs 5 which strengthen the plates vertically. A projectile, such as a torpedo, will strike the armorplates 3 and will be fended ofi thereby, said armorplates 3 cushioning the impact of the projectile and preventing it from penetrating the hull of the ship. The detonation of the projectile will thus be substantially spaced from the hull. The cushioning action is provided by springs 4 and by the mass of water between the armorplates which are struck and the hull of the ship.

Indicator devices for indicating the position of each armorplate are provided, each indicator consisting of a pointer member 6 mounted on a shaft journaled in a cylindrical housing I mounted on the ship adjacent each armor plate 3. A calibrated dial 8 is provided on the upper face of housing 1. The pointer shaft is actuated by a cable 9 which is connected to an arm I0 projecting from the upper edge of the armorplate 3. An appropriate spiral spring in housing I biases the pointer shaft toward its zero position, which position will be indicated by pointer B when the armorplate is in normal position. When the armorplate is deflected inwardly toward the hull of the ship, its motion is transmitted through cable 9 to the pointer shaft. If it remains in a deflected position due to damage by the projectile the pointer will indicate a numerical value on dial '8 corresponding to the deflected position of the plate.

While a specific embodiment of an auxiliary armorplate structure for a ship has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An auxiliary armorplate structure for a ship comprising a supporting bar encircling the hull of the ship, a plurality of upwardly and outwardly extending bracket members extending from the hull to said bar and rigidly securing said bar to the hull in spaced relation thereto, a plurality of rigid armorplate elements pivotally suspended from said bar around the periphery of the hull and extending downwardly substantially to the level of the bottom of said hull, compression springs between the bottom of each armorplate element and the bottom of the hull for biasing each of said armorplate elements outwardly with respect to said hull, and mechanism indicating the position of said armor plate elements comprising a cable attached to an upwardly extending arm on said armor plate elements adapted to actuate an indicator located on deck of said ship an amount corresponding to 20 4 the deflected position of said armor plate elements.

FIELDIN G A. HAMBRICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 1,248,708 Price Dec. 4, 1917 1,280,771 Lazowski Oct. 8, 1918 1,285,261 Lock Nov. 19, 1918 1,303,522 Theodore May 13, 1919 15 1,322,576 Jasinski et a1. Nov. 25, 1919 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 496,963 France Aug. 22, 1919 

